FRESH plans to create a new business centre at the former home of a terracotta pot supplier have been revealed.

Baahn Developments has applied for planning permission to demolish the buildings at the old home of Classic Pot Emporium, in Straight Road, Boxted, and create 28 new office units.

Four different sizes of offices would be created at the site over two floors.

Previous plans for the site which featured retail, office and general industrial space were approved back in 2018, however, the developer has made a number of changes to the scheme.

A planning report states: “The application proposes to create 28 office units, each occupying a smaller footprint than the approved scheme, but with accommodation spread across two floors, creating a 20 per cent uplift in the floor area.

“The approved scheme sought to create the aesthetic of a farmyard and used buildings which could be read as barns or stables, whereas the proposed scheme offers a contemporary interpretation of office accommodation, using tall windows so that natural light floods the interior and creates an attractive working environment.”

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Buildings will be arranged in a U-shape around a central car park with further parking in a landscape area to the east of the site.

Access will be provided from Straight Road with works planned to upgrade the turning area.

The report says the buildings have been designed to be “in keeping with the rural character of the surrounding area”.

It said: “The office uses will take advantage of the rural location and will be set in landscaped grounds to emphasise the location close to the town and village, enjoying easy access to the A12, offering the potential for workers to cycle to work and generating demand for an improvement to the existing bus service.”

“The proposed scheme is designed to address the constraints and opportunities presented by the site.”

It adds: “The site is a suitable location for employment-generating development, available now and will deliver the new offices in the short term.”

The application does not state how many jobs will be created by the development.

Classic Pot Emporium is now based at Warrens Farm in Great Tey.

Colchester Council will have the final say on the plans.